Chief minister, Conard Sangma said that team from NDRF and district administration are carrying out the rescue operation. “This is unfortunate and we are concerned about the incident.”

GUWAHATI: What is hinting at continuation of illegal mining activity in the coal mines of Meghalaya despite National Green Tribunal’s ban, 13 people are trapped inside a coal pit in coal rich East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya.

Chief minister, Conrad Sangma said that team from NDRF and district administration are carrying out the rescue operation. “This is unfortunate and we are concerned about the incident.”

He added, “We are aware that illegal mining activity is going on and appropriate action will be taken at appropriate time. This is not acceptable.”

It is believed that due to overflowing of water from nearby river the miners were trapped inside.

Water is being pumped out and efforts are on to identify the people behind the illegal mining.

A case is registered against the owner.These mines are termed as the ‘rat mines’ of Meghalaya for its crude holes dug into the hills which are narrow in diameter. The indigenous population engages in traditional method of mining and ownership is with the community.

In a similar incident in 2012 around 15 miners were trapped in an illegal rat-hole coal mine near the Nangalbibra area in South Garo Hills in 2012. The bodies were never recovered.

According to latest inventory of Geological Resources of Coal in India by the Geological Survey of India there is 576 Million Tonnes of coal in Meghalaya. The sub bituminous coal is spread across in South Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills, Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills.